What is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a technique used by physical therapists to treat pain and movement impairments. The method involves inserting thin, monofilament needles into neural, muscular, and connective tissue tissue to stimulate a healing response.
What Does Dry Needling Do?
Dry needling primarily aims to relieve pain and stiffness, improve range of motion, and enhance muscle function. It can be effective in treating various musculoskeletal issues, such as chronic pain conditions, sports injuries, muscle spasms, tendinopathies, and cervicogenic headaches.
Why and How Does Dry Needling Work?
The underlying principle of dry needling is to disrupt the muscle’s knotted areas, known as trigger points, which are often sources of pain and discomfort. When a needle is inserted into these trigger points, it can produce several therapeutic effects, including decreased muscle tightness, improved blood flow, decreased pain sensitivity, and improved muscle function.
Scientific Basis and Effectiveness
Research supports the effectiveness of dry needling in reducing pain in patients with musculoskeletal conditions. Studies have shown that it can be an effective adjunct to other physical therapy treatments resulting in improved functional movement.
Dry needling, when performed by a skilled physical therapist, can be a valuable tool in managing pain and improving musculoskeletal health. If you think you could benefit from dry needling, schedule now for individualized physical therapy in South Boulder with Dr. Sarah Burkhardt.
or email sarah@seatosummitpt.com with any questions!
References:
Gattie, E., Cleland, J. A., & Snodgrass, S. (2017). The effectiveness of trigger point dry needling for musculoskeletal conditions by physical therapists: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 47(3), 133-149.
Dunning, J., Butts, R., Mourad, F., Young, I., Flannagan, S., & Perreault, T. (2014). Dry needling: A literature review with implications for clinical practice guidelines. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 30(5), 347-368.
Rodríguez-Huguet M, Vinolo-Gil MJ, Góngora-Rodríguez J. Dry Needling in Physical Therapy Treatment of Chronic Neck Pain: Systematic Review. J Clin Med. 2022;11(9):2370. Published 2022 Apr 23. doi:10.3390/jcm11092370